The
Canadian Union of Public Employees is claiming the Horizon Health
Network is looking to cut 4 per cent of its workforce which would be
from 400 to 500 jobs.
131 job
cuts have been announced but Ralph McBride, provincial co-ordinator for
CUPE local 1252, tells Tide News that's just the beginning of the
reductions because Horizon still has to reduce its budget by almost 14
million dollars and it's that amount which has healthcare workers so
anxious.
McBride warns if front-line workers are cut then patient care will be adversely affected.
Provincial Health Minister Ted
Flemming argues health care should not be used to create jobs and
McBridge counters that by saying it isn't because each of his members
has a specific role to play to keep the system functioning.